PNM Substation and Tramway Transmission Line Proposal Status update:
Media coverage: KRQE | Albuquerque Journal | KOAT | Citydesk
An Update from the SHHA PNM Task Group
At a May 12, 2026 hearing, the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners (BCC) granted the three community appeals, including one filed by the Sandia Heights Homeowners Association, thereby denying Public Service Company of New Mexico’s proposal to construct a 3.5 acre, 66 MVA electrical substation on Paseo del Norte Boulevard and 115 kV power lines on 90 foot towers along eastern Paseo del Norte and Tramway Boulevards.
This marks a significant victory for the affected communities, made possible by the support, letters, testimony, and participation of hundreds of residents in Sandia Heights and North Albuquerque Acres. The Commissioners heard their constituents’ concerns and sent PNM back to the drawing board.
Concerns with the Proposal
PNM’s application for the substation and transmission lines was incomplete and did not adequately support the proposed project. The substation proposed for a residentially zoned neighborhood would have been more than three times the size of other substations in the area and designed for roughly three times the capacity (66 MVA versus 22.4 MVA for the Tramway and Hamilton I & II substations).
The proposed transmission corridor would have placed high voltage power lines within a narrow easement adjacent to the Tramway recreational trail and within approximately 100 feet of at least 37 Sandia Heights homes. Residents also raised concerns regarding wildfire risk, visual impacts, property values, and possible effects on homeowners’ insurance availability and cost.
In its application and presentations, PNM argued that existing electrical infrastructure in Northeast Albuquerque is at or above capacity, especially during the summer months. Those testifying on behalf of SHHA did not dispute that additional infrastructure improvements may be necessary. However, PNM did not provide sufficient electrical load data to justify placing such a large facility in the slowest growing portion of the service area. Sandia Heights has been more than 95% built out for many years. The BCC and appellants were ultimately not convinced that the proposed “area of need” had been clearly defined or adequately supported.
What Happens Next?
With the denial of its application, PNM must now reconsider how to meet growing electrical demand in Northeast Albuquerque.
PNM could continue pursuing the denied proposal through litigation or by appealing to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. Notably, PNM challenged a similar BCC decision in court in 2021 and did not prevail.
Alternatively, PNM could revise the project and submit a new application for infrastructure located closer to the areas experiencing the greatest growth farther west. A Technical Working Group (TWG), composed of qualified active and retired professionals representing the affected neighborhoods and appellants, has volunteered to work with PNM to evaluate alternative locations for the necessary electrical facilities.
Community Updates
Your Sandia Heights Homeowners Association will continue monitoring this issue and keeping residents informed as developments occur.
Efforts are underway to organize a community wide meeting to share information and gather resident feedback regarding the substation and transmission line project. Once scheduled, the meeting date, time, and location will be distributed through email and posted on the SHHA website.
Residents are encouraged to contact the SHHA office to confirm they are subscribed to the Association’s email update list.
Thank You
Thank you to everyone who wrote letters, made calls, attended hearings, or otherwise participated in this process. Public participation played an important role throughout the proceedings.
Residents who wish to do so may also consider thanking the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners for their careful consideration and deliberation on this matter.
Links and Resources
- PNM project website: https://www.pnm.com/naa
- Detailed fire risk analysis by community member D.N. Jenkins: View document
- Firsthand account: Read Dave Becker’s account of a 2018 power line fire next to his property on Tramway Boulevard on page 10 of the February 2026 GRIT: https://sandiahomeowners.org/storage/app/media/grit/2026/2026-02_GRIT_final.pdf